I’m looking for recommendations for VERY easy climbing north of Lake Tahoe.

I will be in Tahoe with my nieces (age 5 and 7) in a few weeks time, and they’d like to try climbing. We will be staying near Alpine Meadows.

I’ve poked around in the routes database for the Tahoe area, but I suspect my nieces are not yet ready for even the easiest routes listed there.

Can anyone suggest a nearby place (within an established crag or otherwise) where they could explore some truly easy (4th class, 5.0) rock? Perhaps one of the established areas has some low angle, highly featured faces nearby that would allow for top-roping? “Low-key” or undeveloped areas would of course be preferable -- we don’t want to get in anyone’s way.

I should note that I’m a reasonably experienced climber, and would be comfortable setting up anchors on trees, bolts, or trad gear. (Though if someone bothered to bolt it, it’s likely too hard for my nieces.)

There is a spot at Donner Summit called schoolroom slab or something like that, that seems to be popular with beginners. There are lots of other 4th class slabs around there you could probably throw a TR on too.

Lover's Leap and the Hogsback each have a bunch of 3rd and 4th class stuff at their east ends as well.

Head up old Hwy 40 past Donner Lake toward Donner Summit. You'll go over a cool arch bridge, then pass the Pacific Crest Trail (just after the bridge).

Just after that you'll come across a moderate slab of rock right at the level of the road, a 1 minute approach. This is the School Rock area. School Rock is actually up above the slab I think, up where Kindergarten Crack is, a classic area ropeless scramble.

But that lower slab is a great place to TR the kids. And of course its usually swarmed on the weekends.

Oh, you can hike up the PCT toward Grouse Slabs for some nice bouldering too.

DMT

ps. Lovers Leap is a good 1.5 hour drive one way from Truckee, I wouldn't think that's what you're after

pps. The slab I mentioned above was well featured in some cornball climbing movie produced my a high school kid, I forget the name.... Extreme Edge or something rad like that. They held a climbing contest on this slab, which when you see it will produce a giggle or two.